There was a time in my natural hair journey when I dreaded detangling. It was time-consuming, painful, and resulted in excessive breakage—making the process nearly impossible for my tender-headed self. Fast forward to today: detangling has actually become my favorite part of wash day since incorporating the right product and tool into my routine.
While I have experimented with countless brushes, I still believe nothing beats finger detangling for reducing tension and breakage. However, a good tool is essential for finishing the job by ensuring all shed hair is removed and coils are tangle-free for a smooth wash day. With that in mind, I picked up the Tangle Teezer Original (Thick & Curly) in late January. After putting it to the test, I wanted to share my honest review.
Specifications
Before diving into how the Tangle Teezer Original performed on my coils, I want to start with the specs of what I ordered and why the details matter, followed by the key design features that make this brush unique.
• Product: Tangle Teezer Original Thick & Curly
• Price: $18.99 CAD (purchased from Amazon)
• Color: Pink Punch
During the buying process, I realized the most important detail is the hair-type label. These brushes are specifically designed to work with your hair texture, so it is vital to select the model that matches your hair’s density and type.
Key Features
• Unique Palm-friendly Shape:
Unlike traditional brushes with a handle, the Tangle Teezer Original is ergonomically shaped to fit comfortably in the palm of your hand. This design makes the brush much easier to handle, providing a more comfortable experience that reduces hand strain and improves efficiency.
• Patented Two-Tiered Technology – Firm-Flex Teeth:
This technology is designed to work on multiple levels simultaneously to efficiently detangle wet or dry hair. The firm-flex teeth for this particular model (Thick & Curly) are specifically made for those with dense and textured hair, providing a higher level of firmness.
º First Tier (Shorter Teeth): Works on the surface to gently smooth and define curls.
º Second Tier (Longer Teeth): Designed to reach deep into dense or coarse textured hair, detangling until you can glide the brush from root to tip.
Personal Experience
The Review
As I mentioned earlier, I prioritize finger detangling before following up with a brush to remove shed hair and ensure my coils are tangle-free. I was hopeful that the Tangle Teezer Original would do just that. To my surprise, the experience exceeded my expectations; with the two-tiered feature, the brush was effective in capturing shed hair that my fingers missed and glided through my coils without pain or snagging.
I always detangle from the bottom up, starting at the ends and working my way toward the roots. This allowed the two-tiered teeth to clear the ends first, ensuring my hair was in a better state to glide the brush smoothly from root to tip.
For someone as tender-headed as I am, the flexible bristles are gentle on my scalp but firm enough to handle my hair texture and density. While it works fine on dry hair, I personally prefer using it on damp or wet hair for the best results. Unlike other brushes I have tried, I have found that this one does not cause unnecessary breakage or damage.
I appreciate the unique, palm-friendly design for reducing wrist strain, as well as its sleek aesthetic. However, because the brush has no handle, it can get quite slippery when wet or paired with a high-slip product like the African Pride Moisture Miracle Aloe & Coconut Water Pre-Shampoo.
While occasionally slipping out of my hand, the brush proved to be very durable, maintaining its integrity without any damage. Still, for added stability, I have found that I prefer the security of a traditional handle.
The only real downside I experienced was cleaning short, shed hair out of the bristles. I found it difficult to pull out trapped strands because the teeth are so close together. While running the brush under warm (or soapy) water helps loosen the hair, I still have to be mindful of my drainage, as the shed hair can collect quickly and slow things down. I have even tried using the end of a rat-tail comb to lift the hair from the base, but since that doesn’t always work, the warm water rinse remains my go-to solution.
Final Thoughts
Overall, I recommend the Tangle Teezer Original (Thick & Curly) for anyone who is tender-headed or struggles with detangling on wash days. It removes shed hair effortlessly and is gentle on the scalp, yet still remains effective enough for thick, dense hair. If you are looking for a tool that prioritizes hair health and glides through with ease, this is definitely worth the investment—just make sure you finger detangle first!
In The Comment Below
Let me know if you have tried the Tangle Teezer Original or another variation of the brand. If not, what is your favorite detangling brush at the moment?
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